News

Italians Roll Out First F-35A

3/16/2015

AFA Caption

​Italy’s
first F-35A, aircraft AL-1, which will also be the first jet operated by the
Italian Air Force, rolls out of the Cameri, Italy, facility, Mar. 12, 2015. Lockheed
Martin photo by Larry Bramblett.

BodyText

Italy
rolled out its first F-35A from a facility in Cameri, Italy, on March 12,
marking the completion of the first F-35A assembled internationally, according
to a company
release. Aircraft AL-1 moves from the Italian Ministry of Defense’s final assembly
and check out facility to additional check out inspections, then first flight
later this year, Lockheed Martin officials said. The F-35 is the first of eight
on order for the Italians, and the Cameri facility is also home to the European
F-35 maintenance overhaul and upgrade center. In addition to the Italian
F-35A and F-35B airframes, the Cameri facility is expected to build F-35As for
the Royal Netherlands Air Force and could be tapped to produce airframes for
other European countries as needed. The Italians are replacing their Panavia
Tornado, AMX ground attack, and AV-8B aircraft with F-35s.